Electrical Engineering Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Electrical Engineering? I plan to go into electrical engineering, I was wondering, would experiece allow me to be able to build electronic devices on my own? I want to be able to have fun on my own free time, building or designing electronic devices and such. Would a degree in electrical engineering help me, if not what area can help me?

Answer: I saw this question and somehow had a Dejavue from about 30 years ago..My favorite thing was radios(i guess that tells my age) so i went to several schools got all that know how in EE and worked 25 years and ..yes you guessed it still love radios ..The old tube type ..these are like big home experiments to me with lots of hands on things that can be repaired or in some cases redesigned. As an EE you do a lot of things one must be a master of his craft in this business so if electronics design engineering is your thing then get right in there and go for it..if designing 2000 amp systems for industry is your life's dream then do that as well. There is though in your life if you wish it room for both..your the one who will block the path or take the higher ground and leave the other behind..For me i chose both and could do both for others it may not be that way ..If you like the unknown now is the time to be in the world at an age when the unknown is everywhere. perhaps you will find an inexhaustible energy supply along your way when like me you just ....liked.....radios......Lots of luck in this challenging but great field...From the E...

Question: How does electrical engineering compare to chemical engineering difficulty wise? I'm deciding what I should major in next year. How hard is chemical engineering compared to electrical engineering. I know for a fact that it is easier to get into a university as a chem engineer major than an electrical engineer. I'm planning to go to UC Berkeley.

Answer: Which one do you think you'll like more? As cliche as it might sound, the one that you'll like more will be the easier one. I've looked at some of the work that Chem E's do and it really did not look appealing to me. I'm only a freshman right now but I'm handling the EECS material well so far though I probably won't be able to say the same for chemistry if I were Chem E. On another note, I had the same question when applying to Berkeley but eventually decided on EECS even though I thought I would be ok with Chem E. If your gpa is pretty high (4.3+ weighted or so) and SAT scores are pretty high (2200+ SAT or ACT equivalent), then you'll probably get into EECS, provided that you write a good essay. At that point, it doesn't matter which major you'll apply for, as you'll have a decent shot at any of the colleges in Berkeley. If you do get into EECS and find that you don't like it, you can switch out of the College of Engineering into the College of Chemistry. However, I know that switching INTO the College of Engineering is quite a challenge. Just throwing another piece of information out there.

Question: What is the Difference between Electrical Engineering and Electrical Engineering Technology? The question is basically what I wanted to know. When I transfer in two years from a community college I wanted to go into Electrical Engineering but there is another major which is Electrical Engineering Technology. Then I wanted to ask: Does it have different path or classes that you have to take? Then, will the same transfer program work for both of them?(this one might be a dugh question but I still want to know)And then What is the difference between the Electrical Engineering Bachelor and the Electrical Engineering Technology.

Answer: The relationship between Engineering and Engineering Technology are similar to Lawyers and Paralegals, Doctors and Nurses, Pharmacists and Pharmacy Techs. Basically an engineering technologist assist the engineer or does simpler or more hands on tasks. The programs are NOT compatible ET degrees do not require hardly any advanced math or upper level engineering classes. So if you start in ET you would almost have to start over once you transfer to the university if you wanted to be an engineer. When it comes to Engineering and Engineering Tech degrees some schools will lie or mislead you, particularly schools that only offer ET degrees. They will try and tell you that they are equivalent but they are not. You should go to ABET.org to find a real engineering school that will get you a real engineering degree.

Question: Is it true that Electrical Engineering major has to devote a lot of time to study? Is it true that Electrical Engineering major has to devote a lot of time to study? Do a lot of technical stuff instead of enjoying the fun of it? Which one is spent more time on, calculation or hands-on building? Does the planning part also occupy more? Really want to know more about electrical engineering. Want to know what electrical engineers do both in general and in specific.

Answer: ALL majors require a lot of study. that is the definition of "going to school".

Question: How is Oil and Gas Industry related to Electrical engineering jobs? I don't understand how oil and gas industry has anything to do with electrical engineering jobs?? Am I not seeing this because currently I am working as a electronics engineer ? This is how I am thinking about this - Oil and gas industry , digs up oil , provides it to our cars and trucks so they can run. Now I don't understand how or where "Electrical engineers" come into play into this ?? Please make me understand. I want to know. P.s: I am an entry level electronics engineer, with a degree in "Electrical engineering" , Currently I am located in Houston, texas.

Answer: The oil and gas industry may more be well known to hire chemical engineers or geologists, but EEs are definitely around. For example, chemical processes in refineries have to be monitored and controlled. The computer network that controls these processes have to be designed and implemented by the help of EEs. Electrical power also needs to be delivered to various processes. These type of work are not the typical EE work like developing microprocessors or printed circuit boards.

Question: What are some high paying electrical engineering jobs? I am set to graduate next year in 2010 and im just wondering what kind of job pays well. I am getting my Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering and planning on getting a Master's of Science in Electrical Engineering right after. However, what type of jobs pay pretty well. I have a 3.75 GPA as of right now. I was thinking of working in a hospital but not sure what i would do or what the pay scale is any advice?

Answer: You really should not be doing it because of pay. Seek out the area you like most. I have a comparable gpa to yours and I have some engineering experience. I also will graduate in 2010. If you do power engineering, a masters degree is worthless. Two years in graduate school is two years of lost pay and pay increases. If you do electromagnetics (most of which is classified) it will be fun, but the pay is less for an undergrad as compared to other fields. You would be expected to get a phd, in which case you'd make a lot more money. Then there is control systems. Apparently nobody likes that. That's just what i hear, and if a CS guy comes on here and disputes that then that's fine. You mentioned working at a hospital. Instead you could work on MRI systems and technology. There's still a lot of research in that field. That would warrant some graduate work. RF engineering is another profitable direction. A lot of RF work is classified, but plenty of private sector jobs exist (like mobile phones, etc) What's my opinion? I would pick an industry that is going to be around for a long time. I'm thinking job security. Don't expect bookoos of money right out of college. You have to work for at least 10 years before you can move up into management type positions (which pay very well).

Question: What is the difference between electrical installation and electrical engineering? Hey im 17 and want an apprentiship. I want to become an electrician (the sort of type where i go into people houses and fix thier plug sockets, light bulbs etc) Im looking to join a company but thier electrical engineering, i was wondering can i still do install plug sockets etc in electrical engineering, if not what exactly is it? Thanks, Danny.

Answer: If you like working with your hands --be an electrician. If you absolutely love math and starring at a computer screen all day be a electrical engineer. Take apart a cell phone and look at the circuit board, if you absolutely are thrilled by that, take heart in knowing it was probably an EE that designed that circuit to make that phone what it was. They both take four years to get (if you get the full apprenticeship for electricity) so skill level is comparable, but different type of skill. My recommendation is if you like hands on to go for the apprenticeship in electricity, but steer away from residential electric and go toward commercial electrician program. It takes a little longer but the pay is much better and your options, which are vitally important, are much better. You want something to make your occupation more exclusive. Lots of people know how to wire houses and switches and lights. Not so many know how to wire 3-phase motors and generators, inverters, rectifiers, high voltage transformers, large building heaters and air conditioners and the like.

Question: How to prepare for an electrical engineering job? I am an electrical engineering graduate.What type of questions are normally asked for an interview?How to prepare for an electrical engineering job?Should I start reading from the beginning? Advanced thanx.

Answer: Research the company you are applying for a job at. If there are technical questions, they will likely be related to their product offerings. If it is a company that makes motors, then study up on motors. If they design automotive circuits, then brush up on your circuit theory and electronics. More often then not, its the 'soft' questions that engineers blow it on. Questions like "Why did you decide to become an engineer?", "Tell me something about yourself?", "Why do you want to work here?", etc. etc. Think about these kind of questions and make sure your answers make you sound enthusiastic and interested in the things that the company does. When they ask "Why did you decide to become an engineer?", don't say "My high school counselor said I should because I was good at math and that Engineering salaries are high! That's a bad answer. A good answer might be "Ever since I was young, I liked to try and understand how things work. I use to take things apart all the time and try to improve them. I'm the kind of person who gets great satisfaction out of solving problems and fixing things, especially if it can make life a little easier" blah blah blah. This will likely sound kind of weird ... but if possible, get your friends and/or family to mock interview you. Practice makes perfect. If you have heard most of the questions already, and formulated answers, you'll be much more comfortable in a real interview. You can find typical questions on the internet. Good luck

Question: How can I mix electrical engineering with music? I am an electrical engineering student ,but I dont know what to do when I graduate. I like music and I want to do something with music. I have heard of audio/sound or acoustic engineering, but I don't know exactly what an audio/sound or acoustic engineer does.

Answer: this question really attract me, i am also electrical engineer but graduated 12 years a go and built good experience in electrification of buildings and infrastructure, but still i love music and i still dreaming to work and may be to study the sound engineering I think answering your question is not hard these engineers are into(music and sound) they are designing testing and operating electronic equipments used to record,produce and mix sounds , you can find them in music industry,concerts,film making, radio stations...etc you can get more info from the net(check this one as example http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos109.htm ) , if you really interested give it a try, especially for you as you are still in university, I do not know if it is easy for them to find a job and how much they are getting(if you have some info,please let me know), also not sure whether they are considered as engineers or technician ,do not know if this profession is regulated like the profession of electrical engineer wish you all the best, keep in touch

Question: What career incorporates both mechanical and electrical engineering and maybe some computer science? I'm a Junior in High School and I'm thinking about college. My dad wants me to do something with mechanical engineering, but electrical/electronics engineering sounds a little more interesting to me. Also, I am taking a computer programming class in school and I like it too and am very good at it. So I would like to know if there are any careers at there which include all these fields or somewhat.

Answer: Sounds like Control Systems or Robotics. I'm currently pursuing such a career. I'm a mechanical engineering senior about to go for my masters in mechanical engineering but I'm focusing on robotics by taking mechanical engineering courses in dynamics and electrical/computer systems courses in robotics. As a mechanical engineer, it is required that I take electronics and computer systems courses and I was able to take 2 unrestricted concentration electives my senior year which (if I had chosen to) could have been from the electrical engineering curriculum. So it's up to you if you want to go electrical engineering and dabble in mechanical, you can. If you want to do mechanical engineering and dabble in electrical, you can, although I think that's easier than the other. But it definitely seems like control systems / robotics / mechatronics is the way to go.